AmeriCorps, Students

12th Annual Continuums of Service Conference: Building a Global Community through Collaborative Engaged Scholarship

Angelaw — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:28:19 -0600

It has never been more important to bring students, faculty, service-learning and civic engagement practitioners, and community members together to address the critical issues we are facing locally and globally. Given the current global economic climate, and the enormous changes in our world, it is imperative that we use engagement to support and enable our fellow citizens to live, work, access higher education, and improve the health of our society.

Engaging at-risk youth in leadership development

magdalenam — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:14:43 -0500

For years, the field of youth development has stressed the benefit of cultivating leadership skills in teens — oftentimes among those that are already excelling. However, with appropriate encouragement and training, many future leaders can be found among so-called “at-risk” youth. Recognizing this reality, former school counselor, Mariam MacGregor, empowered a new breed of teen leaders at an alternative high school in Thornton, Colorado. This effective practice examines her innovative methods and can prove valuable for national service programs seeking to build future leaders, peer mentors, and tutors. Staff of the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (LEARNS) submitted this effective practice in September 2008.

Providing summertime contact in school-based mentoring programs

pingv — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:04:28 -0500

One of the main challenges for school-based mentoring programs is keeping matches in touch over the summer break when extensive in-person meetings may not be possible. Research indicates that school-based mentoring relationships suffer when summer contact is absent. Luckily, there are several strategies available to school-based mentoring programs to keep matches engaged, minimize the negative impact of the summer break on relationship quality, and get matches ready to build on positive momentum when the school year starts back up. This effective practice was submitted by LEARNS at the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory in April 2008.

Using viral marketing to recruit student volunteer leaders

pingv — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:04:52 -0500

Viral marketing is a technique that leverages people to spread a marketing message to others, creating the potential for exponential growth in the exposure and influence of the message. This is a particularly powerful youth recruitment tool, as young people are savvy producers and consumers of this kind of information — much of it web based. Hands On Network shared this effective practice in August, 2007, developed from the experiences of the Citizen Action AmeriCorps members.

Recruiting college students as volunteer leaders

pingv — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 12:18:20 -0500

College students often have a variety of activities and responsibilities competing for their attention, and engaging them in service takes a well-conceived strategy. This effective practice was developed and tested by Hands On Network’s Citizen Action AmeriCorps members in Seattle, Boston, and Atlanta. Lori Jean Mantooth of the Hands On Network shared this effective practice in August 2007.

Establishing campus connections for engaging college students as volunteer leaders

pingv — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 18:09:47 -0500

National service programs seek to expand their efforts by leveraging additional volunteers within the communities they serve. Increase capacity by recruiting college students as volunteer leaders, who can plan meaningful service projects that engage their fellow students. This effective practice was developed and tested by Hands On Network’s Citizen Action AmeriCorps members in Seattle, Boston, and Atlanta. Lori Jean Mantooth of the Hands On Network shared this effective practice in August 2007.

Understanding the principles of universal design

pingv — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:53:32 -0500

At the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University, a group of architects, product designers, engineers, and environmental design researchers established seven principles of universal design to provide guidance for planning products and environments (Connell, Jones, Mace, Mueller, Mullick, Ostroff, Sanford, Steinfeld, Story, & Vanderheiden, 1997). This effective practice, shared by the National Service Inclusion Project in June of 2007, highlights these standards, and offers examples to guide those working on design issues. Additionally, the practice will help non-designers to consider materials and settings from the perspective of people with disabilities.

Involving college students and community members in a social awareness event

pingv — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 13:49:32 -0600

"Tunnel of Oppression," an interactive walk-through event that combines visual art, multi-media, poetry and prose, was hosted by the AmeriCorps*VISTA program at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) to raise participant awareness and increase social consciousness in students and community members. In order to plan, organize and carry out the "Tunnel of Oppression" event, members of the EMU AmeriCorps*VISTA program enlisted the help of non-AmeriCorps*VISTA students as well as campus faculty and staff. AmeriCorps*VISTA member Angelina Hamilton Broderick (Michigan Campus Compact) submitted this effective practice in 2005.

Using a scheduling/goals worksheet to organize a tutoring session with multiple students

pingv — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 13:20:49 -0600

For mentors and tutors who work with more than one student at a time, it can be difficult to coordinate interests and abilities, and stay focused and on task for each student being served. This effective practice outlines a technique that can be of help to those who are striving to provide high quality, individualized support in these challenging situations. Paul Dean, a student at Yale University, and a member of the Dwight Hall Academic Mentoring Program, shared this strategy in November 2006 via the America Learns Network.

Preventing common adolescent at-risk behaviors with early intervention

pingv — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 17:40:28 -0500

The Alternative Classroom Experience (ACE) program of the Joseph Pfeifer Kiwanis Camp, just outside of Little Rock, Arkansas, is a unique program with a mission to help children live their lives more responsibly. Each school year, ten AmeriCorps members serve as youth mentors and dorm companions to targeted Pulaski County elementary students in grades three to five who are at risk academically and struggle with appropriate behavior in the classroom. Five times during the school year, the ACE program welcomes a new cohort of 30 upper elementary students to the Pfeifer Kiwanis Camp. These students are excused from their regular schools to participate in an intensive, five-week residential educational program that provides academic tutoring, disciplined study, outdoor adventures, team building, leadership training, and social issues education (AIDS, violence prevention, gangs, and drug and alcohol awareness). Simultaneously, the ACE program works with parents to enhance parenting skills and provide additional educational and social services. Submitted by LEARNS in fall of 2006.

Teaching students to recognize uppercase and lowercase letters

pingv — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 18:22:19 -0500

For some preschool and kindergarten students, it can be a challenge to learn to recognize the letters of the alphabet. This effective practice highlights a creative technique that engages students on many levels, making it easy and fun to remember letters. Sherry Martin, a second year AmeriCorps member with America Reads – Mississippi, shared this effective practice in September 2006 via the America Learns Network.

Using a character tree to keep track of a story

pingv — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 16:21:20 -0500

Reading the classic works of literature can be intimidating for anyone, especially middle and high school students. This effective practice highlights a strategy that helps readers keep track of who’s who in the narration. Elena Kamenetzky submitted this effective practice in August 2006, via the America Learns Network.

Increasing vocabulary with a kinesthetic activity

pingv — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 16:08:55 -0500

This effective practice suggests a creative approach for learning new words that is engaging and fun for students. The strategy was contributed by Sarah Kurachek in March 2006 via the America Learns Network.

Introducing nouns to students

pingv — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 15:50:49 -0500

Teaching grammar to children can be a time for tutors to get creative! This technique, "Around the World with Nouns," helps young students conceptualize what nouns are. LaTarsha Bernard, a second year AmeriCorps member with America Reads – Mississippi, shared this effective practice in November 2005 via the America Learns Network.

Identifying features of high-performing after-school programs

pingv — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 15:13:00 -0500

In 2005, the After-School Corporation (TASC) commissioned an evaluation of the after-school programs it funds in New York City to determine which programs were most successful in improving student academic performance and to identify what traits and features were common to them. The study was implemented by Policy Studies Associates (PSA) as a follow up to their multi-year evaluation of TASC. PSA found that shared characteristics among these high-performing programs include: a broad array of enrichment opportunities; opportunities for skill building and mastery; intentional relationship building; a strong/experienced leader/manager supported by a trained and supervised staff; and sponsoring organizations that provided an effective balance of support and autonomy. The findings of this study will be of value to new and existing national service-funded organizations seeking to establish or improve their programming, staffing, and support systems for out-of-school time (OST) programs.

Recognizing student volunteers with leadership awards

pingv — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 12:31:38 -0500

Although service is its own reward, it's human nature to desire recognition! At Ferris State University, leadership awards are given annually through a collaboration of the Student Leadership and Activities Office and the Student Volunteer Center. With more than 200 registered student organizations on campus participating in community service projects during the year, individuals and organizations are selected based on number of total hours reported, creativity and variety of service projects, and the impact their projects had on the community. Candice D. Fortman, Americorps*VISTA, with the Michigan Campus Compact, submitted this effective practice in September 2005.

Establishing strong ties to local college and university career service offices

pingv — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 01:00:00 -0600

Building relationships with career services offices enhances the likelihood that AmeriCorps members will be validated for their year of service, as well as increasing the number of recruits for service programs. Amy Potthast, former AmeriCorps*VISTA member and current program manager with Idealist.org, submitted this effective practice in January 2006.

Instituting a day of service with new student orientation

pingv — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 01:00:00 -0500

For new students at Eastern Michigan University, a service component during orientation week highlights the campus' focus on civic engagement and places service within the larger community context. Scott Craven, AmeriCorps*VISTA leader with Michigan Campus Compact, submitted this effective practice in September 2005.

AmeriCorps for Community Engagement and Education at the Charles A. Dana Center

pingv — Fri, 19 Aug 2005 16:42:25 -0500

The goal of the ACEE program is to provide a high-quality, comprehensive, bilingual literacy tutoring program that supports students, families, and the community. With ongoing support and training from literacy specialists, ACEE members work in the classroom to provide literacy tutoring for students in kindergarten through first grade.

Helping students feel comfortable about being tutored or mentored

pingv — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 01:00:00 -0500

Some students may feel angry or even hurt about being chosen to participate in a tutoring or mentoring program. Oftentimes, students become upset if they are pulled out of their classrooms or prevented from participating in other after school activities because of tutoring or mentoring. This effective practice from America Learns provides strategies for discussing these issues openly with students, and suggests ways to respond to student discomfort about tutoring or mentoring.

Sharing literacy skills with grade school children

pingv — Wed, 01 Dec 2004 01:00:00 -0600

Word activities provide students with an enjoyable way to integrate learning and reinforce literacy skills. This effective practice provides examples of three of these activities for students and was submitted by Jeannette Napadow of Oak School in Hinsdale, Illinois.

Providing young people with authentic writing activities: ten tips

pingv — Tue, 30 Nov 2004 01:00:00 -0600

Encouraging authentic writing activities fosters students' creativity and can be a useful way of getting students excited about language and learning. Familiarity with writing cultivates students' confidence in their expression, and helps them in all scholastic areas. Jeannette Napadow of Oak School in Hinsdale, Illinois, submitted this effective practice in September 2004.

Getting classroom support for environmental programs at an elementary school

pingv — Wed, 14 Apr 2004 01:00:00 -0500

Schools are a perfect place to teach composting and recycling habits that can last a lifetime. However, sometimes busy teachers and students can use additional motivation and support. At the Metropolitan Learning Center Elementary School in Portland, Oregon, AmeriCorps members come into the classroom to help participants remain focused and intent. Jennifer Rasor shared this effective practice with the K-12 S-L (service-learning) e-mail discussion list in May 2003.

Maximizing higher education volunteerism at community drop-in resource centers

pingv — Tue, 27 May 2003 01:00:00 -0500

A national network of drop-in resource centers, staffed by student volunteers from area colleges and universities, provides information and problem-solving services to community residents in need of assistance finding sustainable employment, social services, and/or educational opportunities. AmeriCorps*VISTA members provide vital full-time, on-site support to local directors and volunteers, helping to build structure and capacity for this program. This effective practice was highlighted in the National Service News, May 12, 2002, Issue No.184, published by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Designing programs to increase tutoring effectiveness

pingv — Mon, 10 Feb 2003 01:00:00 -0600

With the goal of designing high-quality national service tutoring programs, the Corporation's 2003 AmeriCorps Grant Guidelines assists applicants in addressing requirements such as incorporating scientifically based approaches to reading instruction, proven strategies for curricula development, tutor training and standards for tutors. This effective practice offers some general elements of tutoring program design that incorporate these requirements and that should be used in the beginning stages of program design. Material is excerpted from the Tutoring Toolkit for AmeriCorps Program Applicants (2003) developed by LEARNS, in conjunction with the Corporation for National and Community Service. A link to the toolkit is provided, as is a listing of other related resources.